Ambassador

[A. S. ambeht; Fr. amba adeur.] The name most commonly given to every kind of diplomatic minister or agent sent by one sovereign power to another to treat upon affairs of state. A. were employed in very ancient times. Moses sent me engers to the king of Edom to request a pa age through his territories (Num. хх. 14-21), в. с. 1452; and David made war upon the Ammonites because their king ill-used his me engers and treated them as spies (2 Sam. x.) в. с. 1058. Emba ies were anciently sent only on particular occasions, but with the progre of commerce and civilization, the intercourse between States became so great, and their interests so complicated, that it was found expedient, and therefore customary, for one power to have its A. residing constantly at the court of another. The ordinary functions of an A. are, to conduct negotiations on behalf of his country, according to the powers intrusted to him, and to watch over the accomplishment of all existing engagements. He has also duties to perform toward private individuals of his own nation; such as to provide them with pa ports; to protect them from violence and injustice, and secure for them the full benefit of the acter, such as his furniture, equipage, ., ., but the Ambidexter'ity, and Ambidextrous ne , n title of Extraordinary being considered more exalted, is now usually bestowed even upon those who are regularly resident. The rank and pomp attached to the office of A. being attended with considerable expense, it was found expedient to employ ministers under other denominations, who, though inferior in point of dignity, should be invested with equal power. The chief difference by which all the lower orders of diplomatic agents are distinguished from A. properly so called, is, that they are the representatives, not of the personal dignity of their sovereign, or of an executive power, but merely of the affairs and interests of their country. To this order belong envoys, ordinary and extraordinary, and the ministers-plenipotentiary. The United States is now represented by an A. at the courts of Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, each of which nations sends an officer of equal rank to Washington. Am ba a doʻrial, a . Belonging to an amba ador. Amba adre , n . A woman sent on an emba y. The wife of an amba ador. Ambat'iki, an island in the S. Pacific, of the Feejee group; Lat. 17°47′ 8.; Lon. 179° 11′ W. It attains an elevation of 750 feet, in the form of a dome. Pop . 500. Amba'to, a town in the rep. of Ecuador, S. America, near the foot of Mount Chimb or azo, 8,837 feet above sea-level; pop . 13,000.